ULLAPOOL, a fishing-village and quoad sacra parish (for a time),
in the parish of Lochbroom, county of
Ross-and-Cromarty, 45 miles (N. W. by W.) from
Dingwall; containing, with the isles of Martin, Ristol,
and Tanara, ^"69 inhabitants, of whom 790 are in the
village of Ullapool. This place owes its origin to the
British Fisheries' Society, who in 1788 established one
of their stations here; and since that time it has been
gradually increasing. The village is finely situated on
the north-eastern shore of Loch Broom, and at the
mouth of a small river which issues from Loch Achall,
and, flowing westward, falls into the bay of Ullapool, in
Loch Broom. Its inhabitants are chiefly employed in
the fisheries, and an agent of the company is stationed
here for the promotion of the trade. The herringfishery,
since its first establishment, has experienced
considerable fluctuation; it has of late improved, and
during the season vast numbers of boats from various
places are actively employed. The harbour is spacious,
and easily accessible to vessels of large burthen, which
can approach the quay. Many coasting-vessels touch
at the port; and belonging to the place are three sloops
that sail to Greenock, Liverpool, and Ireland, with
which a moderate coasting-trade is carried on. A postoffice
under that of Dingwall is established here, and
letters are conveyed by a messenger three times a week:
the road to Dingwall was in excellent condition, but has
been much neglected. The parish, which comprised a
district of about sixty square miles, was separated for
ecclesiastical purposes from Lochbroom under act of the
General Assembly in 1834. The church, which accommodates
600 persons, was erected by parliamentary
grant in IS'29; the minister has a stipend of £1'20, with
a manse, and grass for two cows: patron, the Crown.
It is intended to erect Ullapool into a parish quoad omnia,
under the act recently passed. A school formerly supported
by the General Assembly has been converted into
a parochial school, and the master now has a salary of
£32 paid by government.